- Panic at West Ham station, east London after man was seen with Samurai sword
- London Underground services delayed across the capital at rush hour tonight
- Trains held for 20 minutes with delays on District, Hammersmith and City Lines
There is panic on the London Underground tonight after a man was spotted with a Samurai sword on a packed train.
Commuters have been delayed across the capital following the sighting on a tube at West Ham in east London.
There are major delays on the District Line between Barking and Upminster after police descended on West Ham station at around 5.30pm.
A man wielding the sword was stopped by officers outside the tube station in east London
There is panic on the line following the sighting on a tube at West Ham station
Trains across the city, including at Victoria train station, were held at stations amid the panic.
Commuters reported being stuck on non-moving eastbound District line trains for more than 20 minutes.
Transport for London says there are also delays on the Hammersmith and City Line between Liverpool Street and Barking.
One commuter wrote on Twitter: ‘Told to get off platform by police while they investigate. No eastbound service. They’re looking for the man.’
People took to social media to after trains were delayed at rush hour this evening
Horrified bystanders looked on in horror as the man was tackled in the street
A TfL spokesperson said police were called to reports of an aggressive passenger.
A spokesman for the British Transport Police said: ‘Officers from British Transport Police have been called to West Ham station this afternoon after reports of a man in possession of a bladed article. The call was made at 5.10pm.
‘The report was made by a member of the public on board a District Line train heading eastbound.
‘Specialist BTP officers, including firearms officers, attended West Ham and Bromley by Bow stations to conduct an area search. No one has yet been traced and enquiries are on-going.
‘This incident is not believed to be terror related.’
Anyone with any information is asked to get in touch by sending a text to 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40. Alternatively, you can pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.